(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-21 10:44

GOTHENBURG, Sweden - France's Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder stayed on course for the ice dancing gold but Thursday belonged to Japan's Mao Asada who won the ladies event after recovering from a spectacular fall.

Japan's Mao Asada performs during the women's free skating programme at the World Figure Skating Championships in Gothenburg March 20, 2008. [Agencies]

Preparing for what was supposed to be an opening triple Axel, the 17-year-old slipped and slid into the boards to the accompaniment of Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu.

But Asada quickly regained her composure and produced an otherwise flawless routine, beating short program winner and European champion Carolina Kostner into second place.

"Never give up, that's what I've learned," smiled Asada, who put in a series of dazzling combinations and completed all her jumps except for the triple Axel to perfection.

Italy's Kostner, leading after Wednesday's short program, made too many errors on her jumps and had to settle for silver.

Korean Kim Yu-na claimed the bronze with the best free skate of the evening.

Asada improved on the world championship silver she won on home soil in 2007 in Tokyo.

"Last year, I made a big mistake in my short program and I realised then how important the short program is," she said.

"This year, I missed my opening triple Axel again, but I learned that if I don't give up on the rest of the elements, I can make up on the mistakes."

Asked how she would celebrate, she smiled: "I'll eat a lot...I will eat everything I want to eat."

FRENCH DOMINANCE

Earlier in the day, Delobel and Schoenfelder gave a dramatic rendition of a French country dance to earn a seasonal best score of 67.25 points.

That put them comfortably on top going into Friday's free dance, with Russians Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski in second after the couple treated the crowd to an engaging Russian gypsy dance.

Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were second after Tuesday's compulsory dance but slipped to third in the standings.

"Among our international competitions it was one of our best performances indeed," Delobel said. "We are happy that we skated well and that we have finished for today."

"(But) We have to stay concentrated, and we can't afford any mistakes. We are leading now, but the others can still catch up."